The Hawaii Department of Health signaled a green light for a medical cannabis dispensary to start growing on the Big Island.

Hawaiian Ethos is the seventh dispensary to open a production center in the state and the first on the Big Island.

The Big Island, which has the second-highest patient count behind Oahu, was the last of the major islands to begin MMJ cultivation. Hawaii began legal MMJ sales a year ago.

According to the health department, to receive the go-ahead, the dispensary had to build a secure facility, operate a marijuana tracking system and receive authorizations from state Narcotics Enforcement Division and the state Department of Public Safety.

Eight dispensaries received licenses in April 2016. A second one on the Big Island has not yet begun operations.

Each dispensary can operate two production facilities and two retail centers.